Recent research has suggested that inflammation in the blood vessels is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. This is because chemicals (known as biochemical markers) released by cells that line blood vessels may indicate the presence of inflammation. One biochemical marker, known as a C-reactive protein, is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attack.1
Some infections may also trigger a heart attack in people who already have CAD.2 But a recent study found that taking antibiotics to prevent infections did not reduce the risk of having a heart attack in people that have been diagnosed with CAD.3
References
Citations
Koenig W (2001). Inflammation and coronary artery disease: An overview. Cardiology in Review, 9(1): 31–35.
Rupprecht HJ, et al. (2001). Impact of viral and bacterial infectious burdens on long-term prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease. Circulation, 104(1): 25–31.
Grayston JT, et al. (2005). Azithromycin for the secondary prevention of coronary events. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(16): 1637–1645.
Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Last Updated | May 14, 2007 |
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